Despite the prosecutor arguing in June that his father Jorge was responsible for the family's finances and not the player, a Spanish court will push ahead with the process of
prosecuting Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi for alleged tax evasion. The court in Barcelona has decided that Lionel Messi could have known about and approved the creation
of a web of shell companies that were allegedly used to evade taxes due on income from image rights.

Messi earns more than $40 million a season in salary and bonuses, according to Forbes
magazine, as well as about $23 million from sponsors. The Spanish state of accused them of filing false returns for the years 2006 to 2009 that hid $5.4 million they owed. The Messis have denied
wrongdoing.